Acetabular fractures are severe injuries, generally caused by high-energy trauma, most frequently from traffic accidents or falls from heights. Fractures of the extremities, head injuries, chest, ...abdomen and pelvic ring injuries are most commonly associated injuries.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures. The open anatomical reduction of the articular surface combined with a rigid internal fixation and early mobilisation have become the standard treatment of these injuries.
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 22 patients of average age 43.13 years. The patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation at the Orthopaedic Clinic of Nis from 2005-2009. The follow-up was 12 to 60 months, with the average of 21.18 months after surgery.
All injured patients were operated on between 4 and 11 days (5.7 days on the average). According to the classification by Judet and Letournel, 15 (68.18%) patients had an elementary acetabular fracture, whereas 7 (31.82%) patients had associated fracture. A satisfactory postoperative reduction implying less than 2 mm of displacement was achieved in 19 (86.36%) patients. The radiological status of the hip joint, determined according to Matta score, was excellent in 15 (68.18%) patients, good in 4 (18.18%) patients and moderate in 3 (13.63%) patients. According to Merle d'Aubigné Scale, the final functional results of the treatment of all operated patients were excellent in 12 (54.54%) patients, good in 7 (31.81%) patients and moderate in 3 (13.63%) patients.
Surgical treatment of dislocated acetabular fractures requires an open reduction and a stable internal fixation. Excellent and good results can be expected only if anatomical reduction and stable internal fixation are achieved.
The principles of fracture management in patients with multiple injuries continue to be of crucial importance. Early treatment of unstable polytraumatized patients with head, chest, abdomen or pelvic ...injuries, with blood loss followed by immediate fracture fixation (Early Total Care -ETC) may be associated with secondary life threatening posttraumatic systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Development of SIRS is typically a function of the type and severity of the initial injury (the “first hit”). Immediate Fracture fixation, using reamed nails or plates, in such unstable patients with multiple injuries is subsequently defined as the “second hit” and may be associated with development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure (MOF), with relatively high morbidity and mortality.
The other alternative for long bone fracture fixation in unstable polytraumatized patients is based on immediate treatment of life threatening conditions related to the injuries, followed by the initial use of minimally invasive modular external frames for long bone fractures and is called Damage Control Orthopedics (DCO) and is widely accepted. In order to refine the DCO concept and to avoid an overuse of external fixation, the “Safe Definitive Surgery” (SDS) concept has been introduced, which is a dynamic synthesis of both strategies (ETC and DCO). The SDS strategy employs clinical parameters and includes repeated assessment of patients. The following paper is going to summarize historical backgrounds and recent concepts in treatment of polytraumatized patients.
Purpose
It is known that the magnitude of surgery and timing of surgical procedures represents a crucial step of care in polytraumatized patients. In contrast, it is not clear which specific factors ...are most critical when evaluating the surgical load (physiologic burden to the patient incurred by surgical procedures). Additionally, there is a dearth of evidence for which body region and surgical procedures are associated with high surgical burden. The aim of this study was to identify key factors and quantify the surgical load for different types of fracture fixation in multiple anatomic regions.
Methods
A standardized questionnaire was developed by experts from Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie (SICOT)-Trauma committee. Questions included relevance and composition of the surgical load, operational staging criteria, and stratification of operation procedures in different anatomic regions. Quantitative values according to a five-point Likert scale were chosen by the correspondents to determine the surgical load value based on their expertise. The surgical load for different surgical procedures in different body regions could be chosen in a range between “1,” defined as the surgical load equivalent to external (monolateral) fixator application, and “5,” defined as the maximal surgical load possible in that specific anatomic region.
Results
This questionnaire was completed online by 196 trauma surgeons from 61 countries in between Jun 26, 2022, and July 16, 2022 that are members of SICOT. The surgical load (SL) overall was considered very important by 77.0% of correspondents and important by 20.9% correspondents. Intraoperative blood loss (43.2%) and soft tissue damage (29.6%) were chosen as the most significant factors by participating surgeons. The decision for staged procedures was dictated by involved body region (56.1%), followed by bleeding risk (18.9%) and fracture complexity (9.2%). Percutaneous or intramedullary procedures as well as fractures in distal anatomic regions, such as hands, ankles, and feet, were consistently ranked lower in their surgical load.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates a consensus in the trauma community about the crucial relevance of the surgical load in polytrauma care. The surgical load is ranked higher with increased intraoperative bleeding and greater soft tissue damage/extent of surgical approach and depends relevantly on the anatomic region and kind of operative procedure. The experts especially consider anatomic regions and the risk of intraoperative bleeding as well as fracture complexity to guide staging protocols. Specialized guidance and teaching is required to assess both the patient’s physiological status and the estimated surgical load reliably in the preoperative decision-making and operative staging.
Purpose
Unstable pelvic ring injury can result in a life-threatening situation and lead to long-term disability. Established classification systems, recently emerged resuscitative and treatment ...options as well as techniques, have facilitated expansion in how these injuries can be studied and managed. This study aims to access practice variation in the management of unstable pelvic injuries around the globe.
Methods
A standardized questionnaire including 15 questions was developed by experts from the SICOT trauma committee (Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie) and then distributed among members. The survey was conducted online for one month in 2022 with 358 trauma surgeons, encompassing responses from 80 countries (experience > 5 years = 79%). Topics in the questionnaire included surgical and interventional treatment strategies, classification, staging/reconstruction procedures, and preoperative imaging. Answer options for treatment strategies were ranked on a 4-point rating scale with following options: (1) always (A), (2) often (O), (3) seldom (S), and (4) never (N). Stratification was performed according to geographic regions (continents).
Results
The Young and Burgess (52%) and Tile/AO (47%) classification systems were commonly used. Preoperative three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) scans were utilized by 93% of respondents. Rescue screws (RS), C-clamps (CC), angioembolization (AE), and pelvic packing (PP) were observed to be rarely implemented in practice (A + O: RS = 24%, CC = 25%, AE = 21%, PP = 25%). External fixation was the most common method temporized fixation (A + O = 71%). Percutaneous screw fixation was the most common definitive fixation technique (A + O = 57%). In contrast, 3D navigation techniques were rarely utilized (A + O = 15%). Most standards in treatment of unstable pelvic ring injuries are implemented equally across the globe. The greatest differences were observed in augmented techniques to bleeding control, such as angioembolization and REBOA, more commonly used in Europe (both), North America (both), and Oceania (only angioembolization).
Conclusion
The Young-Burgess and Tile/AO classifications are used approximately equally across the world. Initial non-invasive stabilization with binders and temporary external fixation are commonly utilized, while specific haemorrhage control techniques such as pelvic packing and angioembolization are rarely and REBOA almost never considered. The substantial regional differences’ impact on outcomes needs to be further explored.
Cervical tuberculosis is a rare disease with a high complication rate. Tuberculosis of the cervical spine is reported in about 6-9% of all cases of spinal tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and treatment ...of spinal tuberculosis is essential in order to prevent neural deficit. Management strategies for spinal tuberculosis range from ambulatory chemotherapy to radical surgical debridement with fusion. The paper presents a case of an 18-year-old patient with TBC spondylitis C3- C5. Eleven months passed from the onset of the disease until surgery and final diagnosis. When hospitalized, the patient suffered from the overall weakness, a 15- kg weight loss, dysphagia, neck pain, neck rigidity, febrility, cervical radiculopathy and paresthesia of both upper extremities. MR image showed a complete destruction of C3, abscess perforation in the anterior epidural space with the spinal cord compression and abscess extension to prevertebral space from C2 to C5. After the radical surgical debridement of C3-C5 and anterior decompression, a tricorticate autologous bone graft obtained from the iliac crest was placed and a plate fixation was done. Tuberculostatics were included for 12 months after surgery. Complete recovery occurred six months after surgery. Anterior decompression with autologous iliac bone graft led to a good clinical and radiological outcome in patients with cervical spine tuberculosis.
Tuberkuloza vrata je retka bolest, sa visokom stopom komplikacija. Tuberkuloza vratne kičme je opisana u 6-9% slučajeva spinalne tuberkuloze. Rana dijagnoza i tretman tuberkuloze kičme neophodni su da bi se sprečio neurološki deficit. Strategija tuberkuloze kičme se kreće od ambulantne hemoterapije do radikalnog hirurškog debridmana sa fuzijom. Prikazujemo slučaj bolesnika, starosti 18 godina, sa tuberkulozom vratne kičme C3-C5. Od početka bolesti do operacije i postavljanja dijagnoze prošlo je 11 meseci. Do hospitalizacije, bolesnik je izgubio na težini 15 kg, imao je teškoće pri gutanju, bolove u vratu, ukočenost vrata, povišenu telesnu temperaturu, vratnu radikulopatiju i osećaj trnjenja u gornjim ekstremitetima. MRI nalaz je pokazao kompletnu destrukciju C3 vratnog pršljena, prodor hladnog apscesa u prednji epiduralni prostor, sa kompresijom na kičmenu moždinu i širenjem apscesa u prevertebralni prostor od C2 do C5 vratnog pršljena. Posle radikalnog hirurškog debridmana C3-C5 i prednje dekompresije, plasiran je trikortikalni autologni koštani grefon sa ilijačne kriste i urađena je fiksacija pločom. Uključeni su tuberkulostatici u trajanju do 12 meseci od operacije. Kompletan oporavak nastupio je 6 meseci posle operacije. Prednja dekompresija sa autolognim koštanim grefonom sa ilijačne kriste vodi ka dobrom kliničkom i radiološkom rezultatu kod bolesnika sa vratnom tuberkulozom kičme.
Rotationally and vertically unstable injuries to the pelvic ring (Type C) require stabilisation of the anterior and posterior pelvic ring complex. Inadequate treatment of these injuries leads to ...chronic instability of the pelvic ring, which can finally cause permanent disability. Open reduction and stable internal fixation of the anterior and posterior complex of unstable pelvic ring injuries are standard procedures in the treatment of hemodynamically stable patients with (Type C) pelvic injuries. Our aim is to show that this type of treatment achieves excellent and good results. All patients were operated on using the method of open reduction and anterior plate fixation of sacroiliac complex as well as fixation of the pubic symphisis. We present a retrospective study of the results concerning the treatment of 19 patients with (Type C) unstable pelvic injuries. The average age of the patients was 43,21 years old. The final functional results, 2 years post-surgery according to the Majeed scoring system and the results were excellent in 11 (57.89%) and good in 8 (42.1%) patients. There were no bad results to report. Type C pelvic ring injuries are unstable and unless they are adequately treated, they can lead to permanent consequences. Surgical treatment that includes open reduction and stable internal fixation of the anterior and posterior pelvic ring complex leads to excellent and good results. The patients that were treated surgically by fixation of the anterior and posterior pelvic ring complex return to their everyday lives and work activities.
Acetabular fractures are severe injuries, mostly occured in young patients after traffic accident or fall from heights. Of the all acetabular fractures, posterior wall acetabular fractures are the ...most often observed. Regarding to mechanism of the injury, about 30% of these fractures are associated with posterior hip dislocation.
The incidence of AVN in 18 patients with posterior wall acetabular fractures associated with dislocations of the hip is presented. Thompson-Epstein Scale (type I-V) was used as the classification of the injury. Kocher-Langenbeck surgical approach was achieved in all patients.
Average following time after surgery was 22, 66 months (8-36 months). After that period the incidence of femoral head AVN was observed in 33.3%. Femoral head AVN was observed in 5.55% of patient who was treated by the reduction of hip dislocation in first 24 hours after injury, while in patients with later reduction, femoral head AVN were observed in 27.77%.
Posterior wall acetabular fractures associated with hip dislocation are severe injuries. Urgent, closed reduction of the hip, early definitive stable osteosynthesis of acetabulum and the experience of surgical team are factors that greatly decrease the possibility for AVN occurence. Later reduction, comminution of posterior wall of the acetabulum (Thompson- Epstein III et IV), impaction, chondral lesion of the femoral head and associated fractures of femoral head, increase the possibility for AVN occurence.